August 20, 2013

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Flooding caused by some of the Philippines' heaviest rains that submerged more than half the capital began receding Tuesday, but authorities evacuated thousands of residents along Manila's overflowing rivers and braced for more chaos in outlying provinces.

At least eight people have died, including four who drowned north of Manila. The dead included a 5-year-old boy whose house was hit by a concrete wall that collapsed, and a 3-year-old boy who fell into a swollen river in Mariveles town in Bataan province. Four people are missing.

Throughout the sprawling, low-lying capital region of 12 million people, offices, banks and schools were closed and most roads were impassable. People stumbled through waist- or neck-deep waters, holding on to ropes strung from flooded houses.

Some of the Philippines' heaviest rains on record fell for a second day Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, turning the capital's roads into rivers and trapping tens of thousands of people in homes and shelters. The government suspended all work except rescues and disaster response. AP / Philippine Air Force

Vehicles line up as they wait for floods to subside in Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Philippine Air Force

Filipinos wade through a flooded street at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Vehicles are parked along a flooded area at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Filipinos cross chest-deep floods at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

A Filipino man crosses a flooded highway at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

A resident wades through a flooded street at a subdivision in Makati city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

Office workers cross a flooded street using makeshift floats during heavy rain at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Residents evacuate to higher ground after floodwaters caused by the swelling of a river surround their homes in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Philippine Army soldiers paddle a boat of residents as they enforce an evacuation following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

Rescuers pull a boat carrying residents as they enforce evacuation at an area flooded due to a swollen river in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Philippine Army soldiers help a resident after rescuing her following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

A Filipino woman sits with her dog at an evacuation center in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Filipino children wait inside a passenger jeep after their family move to a temporary evacuation center in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

A resident arrives at an evacuation center with his television set after abandoning his house following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines, Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

A girl carries used dishes in an evacuation center in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Residents make use of the corridors of a public school as their temporary shelter after fleeing their flooded homes by the riverside following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines, Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

Residents make use of the corridors of a public school as their temporary shelter after fleeing their flooded homes by the riverside following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines, Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

Residents make use of the corridors of a public school as their temporary shelter after fleeing their flooded homes by the riverside following the swelling of Marikina River in Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

A dog stays on a drier cage as residents peer from their flooded homes in Binakayan township, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. Torrential rains brought the Philippine capital to a standstill Monday, submerging some areas in waist-deep floodwaters and making streets impassable to vehicles while thousands of people across coastal and mountainous northern regions fled to emergency shelters. AP / Bullit Marquez

Filipino boys play along a flooded street in Las Pinas, south of Manila, Philippines on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

An aerial view of flooded houses in Laguna province, south of Manila, Philippines on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. AP / Philippine Air Force

A Filipino man uses his smartphone as he stays inside his flooded home in Las Pinas, south of Manila, Philippines on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. AP / Aaron Favila

Residents take shelter on the road as they flee their flooded homes in Binakayan township, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. AP / Bullit Marquez

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